Herd composition and productivity indices of ruminant animals in Teaching and Research Farm, Federal University of Kashere Gombe, Gombe State

Abstract

The research was conducted at the ruminant section of Animal Science Teaching and Research Farm Federal University of Kashere. The variables of interest and data collected were weaning weight, parturition interval, and litter number at birth. Others are weight at birth, mortality rate, survival rate, attrition percentages and productivity index. The data collected was analyzed using derived models by Wilson and Mason (1983) as presented. The results indicated that weaning weight for the cattle is 80.5±2.5, for the sheep 15.0±2.0, for the goat 14.7±2.0 Parturition interval for the cattle 260±11, sheep 150±9, for the goat 150±8. Litter number at birth for cattle 1, sheep and goat 1.61 and 1.81. Weight at birth was 420.5in cattle ±2.0, sheep and goat 45.5±2.0 and 43.5±2.0. Number of Parturition in cattle was 4.5, 7.3 in sheep and 9.5 in goats3 and 9.5. Mortality rate in cattle 0.2, sheep 0.25 and goat 0.29%. Estimated Individual flock weight in cattle was 332, sheep 40.5 and goat 38.8. Initial flock size was 32 for cattle, sheep 35 and goat 34. Final flock size in Numbers was cattle 27, sheep 26 and goat 28. Flock exits were cattle 7, sheep 9 and goat 7. Attrition percentages for cattle were 15.6, sheep 25.7 and 20.6. The study concluded that that the productivity parameters of cattle sheep and goats in teaching and research farm Federal University of Kashere were better in Cattle and Goats. Attempt should be made in improving their performance by keeping proper productivity records.